In a session held on Wednesday (28), the Collegiate Board of Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) approved decisive regulatory changes for the country's medical cannabis sector, complying with a ruling by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ).
Anvisa approved a resolution that, among other advances, allows compounding pharmacies to dispense cannabidiol-based products through individualized medical prescriptions. The agency also announced that it will open public calls to select non-profit associations to participate in a phase of "controlled testing" for cannabis cultivation and oil extraction.
For lawyer Erik Torquato, a specialist in medical cannabis regulation, the decision represents a paradigm shift in how civil society organizations are treated. "It is undoubtedly a major advance in Brazil's national cannabis control policy and a recognition of the social role of patient associations and their importance in democratizing access," Torquato said. "The goal is for Anvisa to establish a definitive regulation capable of addressing the specific needs of association-led initiatives."
The decision deepens a process of regulatory opening that gained momentum in November 2024, when the STJ issued a landmark ruling stating that Brazil's Drug Law does not apply to cannabis varieties with negligible levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound responsible for the plant's psychoactive effects.
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